Will Victor Wembanyama debut in Sacramento’s California Classic? Here’s when we’ll know
The biggest summer league storyline going into next week’s California Classic will be the availability of San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama.
The Spurs have not announced whether Wembanyama will suit up in Sacramento or wait to make his debut in Las Vegas. A league source told The Sacramento Bee on Monday evening that decision will likely be made in the next 24 to 36 hours.
Wembanyama, the No. 1 pick in last week’s NBA draft, could go up against No. 2 pick Brandon Miller in the second game of the California Classic on July 3 at Golden 1 Center. The Spurs and Hornets are also scheduled to face each other July 7 on the first day of the Las Vegas Summer League.
Wembanyama, a 7-foot-5 center with an 8-foot wingspan, has been billed as a generational talent. The 19-year-old French phenom is the top prospect to enter the league since LeBron James.
Wembanyama told French newspaper L’Equipe on Monday he will not play for France at the FIBA World Cup Aug. 25 to Sept. 10 in Manila, Philippines, saying he will instead focus on preparing for his rookie season in the NBA. Wembanyama said he made the decision after consulting with his medical team, noting he will play an 82-game season in the NBA before representing France at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“It would be unrealistic in terms of development and unwise in terms of health,” Wembanyama said, according to a translation from the Associated Press. “I hope people will understand. It’s frustrating for me, too. The French team is as central as ever. I want to win as many titles as possible with them. But I think it’s a necessary sacrifice.”
The California Classic is returning to Sacramento this year after being held at Chase Center in San Francisco last summer. The two-day event will be held July 3 and 5 with triple-header action scheduled both days.
The Sacramento Kings, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat have been fixtures in the California Classic since it was founded in 2018. The Spurs and Hornets were added this year as part of an expanded six-team field.
The Lakers will play the Heat in the first game at 3 p.m. on July 3 followed by the Spurs-Hornets game at 5 p.m. and the Kings-Warriors game at 7 p.m. On July 5, the Warriors will play the Hornets at 3 p.m. followed by Spurs vs. Lakers at 5 p.m. and Kings vs. Heat at 7 p.m.
